Drill collar for drilling strings



Nov. 30, 1937. .1. c, WRIGHT DRILL COLLAR FOR DRILLING STRINGS Filed NOV. 14, 1956 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRILL COLLAR Foa DRILLING STRINGS Jesse C. Wright, Los Angeles, Calif. I Application November 14, 1936, serial No. 110,820

1s claims. (o1. 25a- 28)` This invention relates to rotary well drilling equipment and relates more particularly to a drill collar foruse in a rotary well drilling string. A general object of this invention is to provide a 5 practical, effective, heavy weight drill collar embodying novel, dependable means for flushing the drilling tool and the drill collar free in theevent they become caught or sanded in the well bore.l

Another object of this invention is to `provide l0 improvements in drill collars of the general character described and claimed in Letters-Patent No. 2,090,822 entitled Drill collar, granted to me August 24, 1937.

A drill collar is an elongate rigid member usually provided in a well drilling string immediately above the drilling tool to lend rigidity to the lower portion of the string and to feed the drilling tool into the earth formation through its weight. It

is often necessary to employ a drill collar of 'A great weight to impose a heave feed pressure on the drilling tool. Heretofore it has been deemed necessary to leave a substantial annular space around the drill collar to permit a wash-over pipe to be passed over it in the event the drilling string parts or the tools become caught in the well. Be-

cause of this factor it has been deemed impractical to increase the diameter of a drill collar to increase its weight and it has been the usual practice to employ a very long drill collar when a drill collar of great weight is necessary. A very long drill collar is impractical as its upper portion has a tendency to fall over against the wall of the Well bore and cause the drill to make a crooked or inclined bore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drill collar of large external diameter and,

therefore, of great Weight and minimum length that may be employed without danger of becoming lost or permanently sanded in the well bore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drill collar of large diameter that Vembodies novel effective means for discharging flushing fluid to flow upwardly around its periphery and.

55 a drill collar of the character mentioned embodying an effective uid handling means adapted to receive flushing fluid from a wash-over pipe and operable to discharge the uid in'a mannertog assure the removal of accumulations of sand and" mud from around the drill collar. g l Another object of this invention Yis to provide a drill collar'of the character'mentioned embodying valve means for. discharging the flushing fluid i into the well at progressively lower points inthe event that the lower portion of the drill-collar is 10 7 so tightly mudded in that the fluid cannot es- Y capefrom vits lower end portion. Y 1

A furtherzobject of this invention is to provide a drill collar of the character mentioned that is sufliciently large in external diameter to forman effective guide bearing and stabilizer for the drilling string and the drilling tools. Y

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description ofv a typical preferred form 20 and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which: y

Figi. 1 is a central longitudinalY detailed sectional view of the drill collar provided by this 25 invention showing the valve tuberin its normal position and illustrating the `body in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the valve tube in a raised positionand Figs.v 3,y

4 and 5 are enlarged transverse detailed sectional 30 Y views taken as indicated by lines 3-3, 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, on Fig.'1.V The improved drill collar of this inventionV includes, generally, a body I0 to be connected in a rotary well drilling string, a ported'tubular 35i member'll surrounding the body I0 with Vclearance, and a shiftable valve tube I2 surrounding the body I0 within the member II for receiving flushing fluid from a wash-over pipe P. Y 'Ihe body-I0 may be similar to a typical drill 40 collar and a typical collar of suitable diameter may be'employed as the body of the device. The body I0 is an elongate member or structure of steel having a thick wall to be of substantial weight. up of one or more lengths or sections. The body III is preferablycylindrical and of uniform external diameter, as illustrated vin the drawing. The upper end of the body I0 is intended to beY connected with the lower end of a rotary well drilling string S. In the arrangement illustrated a sub I3 connects the upper `end of the body I0 with the lower end of the drilling string S. The sub I3 is provided with circumferentially spaced abutments or projections I4 for the pur- 55 In practice the body I0 may be made 45 Y pose to be hereinafter described. A special sub I5 is secured to the lower end of the body II). The sub I5 may have a pin threaded in a tapered socket I6 in the lower end of the body I. The sub I5 is larger in diameter than the body I0 and is stepped to present two upwardly facing annular shoulders I1 and I8. A suitable drilling tool T maybe connected with the lower end of the sub I5. In accordance with the invention the body I0 has a central longitudinal fluid passage 20 extending through it from one end to the other to conduct the circulation fluid employed during the drilling operation.

The tubular member II surrounds the body I0 and is connected with the sub I5 to be rigid with the body. The tubular member II may be a simple tube threaded on the sub I5 to have its lower end bear on the shoulder I8. The member I I extends upwardly from the sub I 5 to surround the body III for a substantial portion of its length. The member II is cylindrical and is suciently large in internal diameter to surround the `body IIB with substantial clearance. Due to its length and diameter the member II is of substantial weight to materially add to the weight of the drill collar. The tubular member II forms the relatively stationary element of the valve means of the invention and is provided with a multiplicity of vertically spaced ports 2|. The ports 2| are preferably distributed throughout a substantial portion of the length of; ther member II. The sub I5 is preferably provided with fluid dischargeports 22 extending downwardly and outwardly from itsshoulder I1 to its exterior. It will be observed that the tubular member I I is considerably larger in diameter than the drill collar body I3 so that it is adapted to cooperate with the side wall of the well bore to form a bearing for guiding and stabilizing the string S and the drilling tool.

end of the tube I2 normally rests on the shoulder I1 and the tube is sufficiently long to project upwardly beyond the upper end of the member II when supported on the shoulder I1. Due to its length the valve tube I2 is of substantial weight and when resting onv the shoulder I1 materially adds to the weight of the drill collar assembly. v

The invention preferably provides a releasable clutch means for causing the tube I2 to turn with the body I0 during the rotary drilling and for transmitting rotation from the tube to the body when an attempt is being made to free the drill collar. The clutch means may include circumferentially spaced clutch teeth 24 on the shoulder I1 for cooperating with correspondingly shaped notches 25 on the lower end of the tube I2. When the tube I2 is resting on the shoulder I1 the notches 25 receive the clutch teeth 24 so that a positive rotative drive is provided between the sub I5 and the valve tube I2. The tube I2 may be freed for rotation independently of the body I0 by merely raising it to disengage its notches 25 from the teeth 24.

Means is provided on the upper end of the valvetube I2 for connecting with or receiving a The lower end of the.

coupling part on the lower end of the wash pipe P. This means may include a tubular coupling member 26 threaded on the upper end of the tubev I2. The particular coupling member 23 illustrated has a tapered pin 21 on its upper end provided with a relatively coarse thread. The pin 21 is adapted to be received in a socket 23 in a coupling member 29 on the lower end of the pipe P. The upper end'of the pin 21 is adapted to jar upwardly against the` projections I4 to impart a jarring action to the body IG and parts connected therewith when the wash pipe P is suddenly moved upwardly as will be rhereinafter described.

The pin 21 surrounds the body I with clearance leaving lan annular fluid passage 30 for receiving fluid from the wash pipe P. The interior of the coupling member 26 forms a chamber 3| communicating with the lower end of the passage 30 and with the upper end of the passage 23. A sand trap is provided in the chamber 3| to prevent sand from closing or clogging the passage 23. The sand trap includes Vertically spaced partitions or baiiles 32. The baies 32 are in the form of internal iianges on the mem-V ber 26 closely embracing the body I to shiftably` guide and steady the valve tube I2. Circumferentially spaced ports 33 are provided in the bafiles 32. The ports 33 may be in the form of notches in the inner edges of the bales 32. The ports 33 are circumferentially offset, that is, the ports 33 of one baille 32 are circumferentially offset from the ports 33 of the other baffle. The ported baiiles 32 extending across the interior of the chamber 3| are adapted to receive any sand or mud that may settle downwardly through the passage 30. The mud and sand collecting on the baffles 32 may bridge across the ports 33 to close them off. These bridges of sand and mud prevent mud or sand from entering the passage 23. The sand and mud accumulated on the baffles 32 is readily washed away when the wash pipe P is connected with the coupling member 2B.

In operation the drill collar is connected with the drilling string S as illustrated in the drawing. During the drilling operation the string S is rotated and fed downwardly in the usual manner and the weight of the drill collar is imposed on the tool T to feed it into the earth formation. It will be obvious that the drill collar embodying the heavy walled body III and the surrounding member I and tube I2 is very heavy to impose a substantial feed pressure on the tool T. 'Ihe drill collar is of maximum weight and minimum length so that its weight is concentrated immediately above the tool T. Throughout the drilling operation rotary mud or circulation fluid is pumped downwardly through Y the string S to flow through the passage 20 and discharge from the tool T. The valve tube I2 normally rests on the shoulder I1 and is connected with the body I0 to turn therewith by the teeth 24 cooperating with the notches 25. The outer tube or member |I is received in the well bore with only slight clearance sufficient for the return flow of the circulation fluid and due to its large diameter may act as a bearing to stabilize and guide the string S and the drilling tool T.

In the event that the drilling string S breaks or parts or the tool T becomes caught or sanded in the well bore the wash-over pipe P may be lowered into the well to pass downwardly over the string S or the broken remaining portion of the string in the well. The wash-over pipe is lowered until its socket 28 receives the pin 21 Athe fluid to discharge from the lower ports.

whereupon it is turned to thread the coupler 29 on the pin. Circulation fluid or water is pumped downwardly through the pipe P and passes through the passage 3U and the chamber 3| into the passage 23. Any sand that may have accumulated on the baflles 32 is readily washed away by the fluid. The fluid flows downwardly through the passage 23 and may discharge from the ports 22. The uid thus discharged from the ports 22V is free to flow upwardly around the drill collar to wash away the accumulations of mud and sand. This may free the drill collarV so that it may be readily withdrawn from the well together with the tool T on the pipe P.V

In some instances the sand and mud may be so tightly packed about the lower portion of the drill collar that theV circulation fluid or water under pressure cannot discharge from the ports 22. If this occurs the wash pipe P may be raised to'uncover certain of the ports 2|.l Uncovering of the ports 2| of course allows the flushing fluid to discharge into the well. The mud and sand may be so tightly packed about the drill collar that the fluid cannot discharge from the lowermost ports 2| and it may be found necessary to raise the tube |2 to uncover higher ports 2|. Thus higher ports 2| may be progressively uncovered until the circulation fluid is freely discharged into the well bore. The fluid discharging from the ports 2| erodes and carries awayY the accumulations of sand and mud above the ports. When the mud and sand above the uncovered ports 2| has been washed away the tube I2' may be lowered to close such ports and cause In this manner the vvalve tube I2 may be manipulated to effect the removal of the accumulations of sand and mud from around thev drill collar even though suchvaccumulations may be so tightly packed as to prevent the initial discharge of the circulation fluid from the lower ports 2|.

It may be found necessary or desirable to impart an upward jarring action to the body I and the member to free the drill collar and the tool T. The wash pipe P may be suddenly raised to bring the upper end of the pin 21 into jarring engagement with the projections I4. tion may be continued until the drill collar is loosened or freed. When the drill collar has been loosened and freed for remo-val the wash pipe P is raised to bring the upper end of the pin 21 against the projections I4 so that the drill collar and tool connected therewith may be withdrawn from the well on the wash pipe. The drill collar Vof the present invention is of great weight and handling the ilushing fluid assure the ready.

freeing and removal of the drill collar from the well in the event that it becomes caught or sanded in the bore.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modiiications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A drill collar including, a body to be connected in a drilling string, a ported tubular mem- This operaber surrounding and secured tothe body, and a valve tube entering the member to supply fluid shiftable to control its ports, and means on the tube for connecting with a wash pipe for supplying fluid to the tube and for shifting the tube.

3. A drill Vcollar including, .a body to berconnected in a drillingstring, a ported tubular memj ber surrounding and secured to the body, a tube extending into the member toy supply fluid thereto and shiftable to control its ports, and means connecting the tube with the body to turn therewith.

, 4. A drill collar including, a body to be connected in a drilling string, a ported'tubular member surrounding and secured tothe body, and a tube 4surrounding the body with clearance toI deliver iluid to the tube and shiftably cooperating with'the interior of the member to control` itsV ports.

nected in a drilling string, a tubulary member 5. A drill Vcollar including, va body to be consurrounding the body with clearance and secured l to the body, the member having vertically spaced ports, and a tube surrounding the body andV eX- tending into the memberto supply fluid thereto and shiftable vertically in the member to control Y said ports.

6. A drill collarincluding, a body to-.be con-V nected in a drilling string, a tubular member'surrounding the body with clearance and secured to the body, the member having vertically spaced'VV ports, a tube around the body and extending into said member to supply fluid thereto and'movable vertically to control'the delivery of fluid to said ports, and a connecting member on the upper end of the tube for connecting a pipe with'the tube to supply fluid thereto and to move .the-

Same.

7.' A drill collar including, a body to'be connectedjin a drilling string, a tubular member sur-l rounding the Vbody with clearanceand secured to the body, the member having vertically spaced ports, a tube surrounding the body and shiftable in the member to control its ports and to supply fluid to theV member, means for connecting a fluid handling pipe'y with the tube,V and releasable clutch means for transmitting rotation between the body and tube.

8. A drill collar for use in a well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string, a

tubular weight element carried by and surround-- ing the body, the element having a uid discharge port, a tube shiftable in the element to supply uid thereto and to control said port, and means for connecting a fluid handling pipe with the tube.

9. A drill collar for use in a well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string, a

tubular weight element carried by and surrounding the body, the element having a uid discharge port, a tube shiftable in the element to supply fluid thereto and to control said port, and an abutment on the body engageable by the tube when the same is moved longitudinally to impart a jarring action to the body. l

l0. A drill collar for use in a well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string, a y

tubular weight element carried by and surrounding the body, the element having a fluid discharge port, a tube shiftable in the element to supply member on the upper end of the tube for connecting the same With a pipe for shifting the tube and for supplying fluid thereto, and an abut- 1 ment on the body engageable by the coupling member to impart a jarring action to the body.

11. A drill collar for use in a well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string,

a tubular Weight element carried by and surrounding the body, the element having a plurality of vertically spaced fluid discharge ports, a tube shiftable in the Weight element to supply fluid thereto and to control its ports, and a coupling member on the tube having a thread for mating with a thread on a pipe for manipulating the tube and for supplying iiuid thereto.

12. A drill collar for use in a well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string, a tubularvweight element carried by and surrounding the body, the element having a plurality of vertically spaced fluid discharge ports, a tube shiftable in the weight element to supply fluid thereto and to control its ports, an abutment on the body for limiting the upward movement of `the tube thereon, and a coupling member on the tube having a thread for' mating with a thread on a pipe for manipulating the tube and for supplying fluid thereto.

13. A drill collar for use in a Well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string, a sub on the lower end of the body, a tubular member carried by the sub and surrounding the body with clearance, the member having vertically spaced uid discharge ports, a tube entering the upper end of the member to supply fluid thereto and shiftable to control said ports, the tube being adapted to rest on the sub, and means on the upper end oi the tube for mating with a coupler on a pipe for shifting the tube and for supplying fluid thereto.

14. A drill collar for use in a Well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string,

- a sub on the lower end of the body, a tubular member carried by the sub and surrounding the body With clearance, the member having vertically spaced fluid discharge ports, a tube enteruid thereto and to control said port, a coupling ing the upper end of the member to supply fluid thereto and shiftable to control said ports, the tube being adapted to rest on the sub, cooperating releasable clutch parts on the tube and sub, and means on the upper end of the tube for mating With a coupler on a pipe for shifting the tube and for supplying fluid thereto.

15. A drill collar for use in a Well drilling string including, a body to be interposed in the string, a tubular Weight element carried by and surrounding the body, the element having a fluid discharge port, a tube shiftable in the element to supply fluid thereto and to control said port,` a coupling member on the upper end of the tube for connecting the same With a pipe for shifting the tube and for supplying fluid thereto, a sand trap in the coupling member, and an abutment on the body engageable by the coupling member to impart a jarring action to the body.

16. A drill collar for use in a'rotary Well drilling string comprising, a body to be connected in the string, a ported tubular member surrounding and secured to the body, and a valve tube tele-, scopically related to the tubular member and shiftable with respect thereto to control its ports.

1'?. A drill collar for use in a rotary Well drilling string comprising, a body to be connected in the string, a ported tubular member surrounding and secured to the body, a valve tube in telescopic relation to the tubular member and shiftable relative to the tubular member to control its ports, and connecting means on the tube for connecting a Wash over pipe with the tube for shifting the tube.

18. A drill collar for use in a Well drilling string including, two parts, one a body to be interposed in the string, the other a tubular Weight element carried by and surrounding the body, the element having a uid discharge port, a tube in shiitable telescopic relation tothe said element to supply uid thereto and to control said port, and an abutment on one of said parts engageable by the shiftable tube When the same is moved longitudinally to impart a jarring action to the` said parts.

JESSE C. WRIGHT. 

